State Planning and Establishment Grants for the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s Exchanges
Inactive
- Assistance listing
- 93.525
- Agency
-
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
- Grant awards
- 237 $4,784,208,383 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance type
-
- Cooperative Agreement
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) operates a cooperative-agreement program that funds state health insurance exchange modernization and establishment, with the most recent grant awards disbursed on September 10, 2021 (CFDA 93.525).
The program has funded state-operated ACA health insurance exchanges since 2010 across 237 awards totaling $4.78 billion in federal dollars obligated. Recent award activity is sparse: after 21 awards in 2021, no new grants have been awarded in the five-year window reported. The 2012–2014 period saw the highest frequency, with 34 to 45 awards per year during the initial exchange establishment phase; a single award followed in 2016 before the 2021 cohort focused on modernization to implement American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provisions. All awards in the portfolio are cooperative agreements, with individual awards ranging from approximately $482 thousand to $1.1 million in the 2021 cycle.
Recent recipients demonstrate the state-based-exchange focus. September 2021 awards included Maryland's modernization of IT, marketing, and training functions ($524,811); Access Health CT's state modernization grant ($1.1 million); and Maine's state-based marketplace modernization on the federal platform ($650,000). Earlier high-value awards from the 2013–2014 establishment phase exceeded $100 million in some cases—for example, California received $122.3 million and New York received $87.7 million for exchange establishment and technology build-out.
The most recent posted opportunity, State Exchange Modernization Grant Program (IE-HBE-21-001), closed on July 20, 2021 (with period of performance through September 9, 2022). That limited-competition solicitation targeted state exchanges with HHS approval under 42 CFR 155.105 and 155.106, offering up to 21 cooperative agreements totaling $20 million, or approximately $1.33 million per awardee. No current grant opportunities are reflected in the source; the program appears inactive for new solicitations as of late 2026.
Objective and description
- Objective
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to modernize or update any system, program, or technology that is necessary for implementation of Sections 9661 and 9663 of the ARPA, which make changes to the premium assistance amounts available to certain
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Exchange Modernization Grant Program | Closed | ||
| Territory Cooperative Agreements for the Affordable Care Act Exchanges | Closed | ||
| Cooperative Agreement to Support Establishment of State Operated Health Insurance Exchanges | Closed |
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 237 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Health Benefit Exchange | $1,065,790,425 | 22% |
| 2 | NYS Department Of Health | $486,744,749 | 10% |
| 3 | Washington Health Benefit Exchange | $272,744,191 | 6% |
| 4 | Health Services Kentucky Cabinet For | $263,013,027 | 5% |
| 5 | Oregon Health Insurance Exchange Corporation | $242,459,269 | 5% |
| 6 | Human Services Vermont Agency Of | $194,873,752 | 4% |
| 7 | Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority | $190,424,821 | 4% |
| 8 | Colorado Health Benefit Exchange | $184,846,493 | 4% |
| 9 | Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange | $168,928,882 | 4% |
| 10 | State Of Illinois | $158,878,749 | 3% |
10 of 88 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2024 | -$896,905 |
| FY2023 | -$722,429 |
| FY2021 | $20,000,000 |
| FY2018 | -$101,279,828 |
| FY2017 | -$59,794,438 |
| FY2016 | -$214,728,035 |
| FY2015 | $418,444,764 |
| FY2014 | $635,755,056 |
| FY2013 | $2,038,609,611 |
| FY2012 | $1,534,026,603 |
| FY2011 | $466,005,714 |
| FY2010 | $48,788,294 |
Show all 12
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 93.525?
Assistance Listing 93.525 is State Planning and Establishment Grants for the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s Exchanges, a federal grant program run by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Department of Health and Human Services). It is inactive.
What is the CFDA number for State Planning and Establishment Grants for the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s Exchanges?
Its CFDA number is 93.525: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 93.525 awarded?
237 grant awards under 93.525 have obligated $4,784,208,383 in federal funds to 88 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 93.525?
The recipients obligated the most under State Planning and Establishment Grants for the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s Exchanges are California Health Benefit Exchange ($1,065,790,425), NYS Department Of Health ($486,744,749) and Washington Health Benefit Exchange ($272,744,191).
Are there open grant opportunities under 93.525?
No opportunity listed under 93.525 is open now. The latest, State Exchange Modernization Grant Program, was posted on May 10, 2021.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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